The 21-year-old Wigan man went unpunished after his knee-height challenge on the 20-year-old defender during the Premier League clash, but the FA did not take further action because at least one of the officials had seen the incident.

But Scudamore admits there would have been no complaints had the governing body decided the tackle should be penalised.

"I don't think anybody in the Premier League, perhaps bar Wigan, would have complained had they decided this was exceptional," Scudamore told The Guardian.

"That's where the Premier League is on this, I don't think the rules need changing, I don't think the line needs moving.

"If they have the ability to deal with an exceptional incident, it looked to most of us that was an exceptional incident. What we don't want is re-refereeing, everyone is agreed on that.

"I think the current system works and no one would have criticised the FA if they had decided that was exceptional."

Limitations mean the FA have difficulty in giving retrospective punishment and while Scudamore acknowledges this, he still thinks McManaman should have been reprimanded.

However, he admits that the Football Association have faced a busy period of late, with the appointment of Greg Dyke as chief executive on Thursday.

"I can understand why given what's happened this week the FA are looking for some cover and I don't blame for that," Scudamore added.

"Yes there is a system that says there are some very clear guidelines that says under what circumstances they can effectively apply retrospective disciplinary action and like all guidelines and rules there is in their view a fixed line.

"But we live in a nuanced world, nothing is that precise, and my view is that currently they have the ability in exceptional circumstances to take retrospective action."